Suvendu Adhikari returns to Nandigram with a big claim: Can BJP win by 1.1 lakh votes?

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari walked 2 km in Nandigram in East Midnapore district on Tuesday and later stood on stage with BJP bypoll candidate Hasirani Rath in a triumphant gesture, confident of winning by a huge margin. 

Adhikari appealed to non-BJP voters in his erstwhile constituency to support Rath. He had won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in the Assembly elections earlier this year but chose to retain Bhabanipur, Mamata Banerjee’s former bastion.

“You call us the Hindu party and don’t vote for us. A big opportunity has come to you in Nandigram. You have to prove that we are friends of the BJP,” Adhikari said.

Rath, who has been in politics since 1998 and has also served as a panchayat member, said a target had been set and the aim was to cross that vote margin.

“The party’s goal is to win Nandigram by a margin of 1.1 lakh votes,” Rath said. The BJP candidate added that the Chief Minister, who had won the seat twice, would support her and had already done a lot for Nandigram.

“Suvendu is definitely my well-wisher. Whatever happened, happened. After my son’s death, he has been an umbrella, safeguarding my family," said an emotional Rath. 

Evoking the memory of Rath’s son Chandranath, who was Adhikari’s PA and was shot dead on May 6, the Chief Minister said the CBI was investigating the case.

“Money was given to contract killers. Seven were arrested. I know that crores were given to eliminate him. This money and the entire operation was done by the bhaipo gang,” Adhikari said, referring to Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee. He also expressed confidence that those guilty would be given the death sentence.

“It was a brutal killing, there is an emotion. Beyond that, Hasi Didi is a party worker. She was a member of the Panchayat Samiti for 10 years,” Adhikari said. The CM is also certain that deposits of the opposition camp candidates of Trinamool Congress(TMC) will be forfeited. 

The bypoll contest is heating up amid uncertainty over both factions of the TMC seeking to contest the elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar. The latter was given up by Aam Janata Unnayun Party(AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir after he won both Rejinagar and Nowada constituencies in Murshidabad district.

The Election Commission of India(ECI) is yet to reach a conclusion about the claim over party name, symbol and bank accounts. After meeting both factions on Saturday in Delhi, the apex polling body has asked both Mamata Banerjee and the Ritabrata Banerjee factions to respond by September 16 with any other documents required to prove their case, which is also the last date to file nominations for by-polls. 

The elections are scheduled to take place on October 6, with the results to be declared by October 9.